Laysan Albatross

November 1, 2011

Gr 3-5-Each title briefly describes the species' distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics; habitat; diet; threats to survival; simple ways readers can aid conservation efforts, etc., but the main focus is on the animal's life cycle. A captioned diagram of each developmental stage is followed by a fictional account of a representative female's life, from hatchling (or live birth) to adulthood, when she produces her own young. In the fictional segment, which takes up about half of each book, the text is set against a background of full-page, realistic drawings; factual sections have one or more sharp color photographs or illustrations of the animals in their natural habitat accompanying the text on almost every page. Included are one or two labeled photographs identifying key anatomical features; a color map indicating geographical range; and a couple of illustrated charts (one compares the average length, or-in the case of the albatross, wingspan-of the animals to different species; the other displays an assortment of typical foods in their diet). All four titles are clearly written, albeit formulaic, particularly in the life-cycle stories (for instance, all the animals encounter and escape from a predator). Sandra Markle's Great White Sharks (Lerner, 2004), at a slightly higher reading level, offers more in-depth information than Molnar's book and has stunning color photos of sharks in action, but there are few introductions available specifically on the other species for this age level. Report writers will find Molnar titles useful, if bland.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

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